Letter writers offer views on heroin coverage, veterans

It's difficult to read the latest, front-page reports on the seriousness of drug use in Dutchess County without feeling the underlying hypocrisy ("The Dutchess 63: They died from overdoses in 2013" June 29). While we now have politicians all over the state, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, wringing their hands over the many deaths because of overdoses, we need to ask them where were they when vital services were being cut or shut down.

There is a strong relationship between drug use and mental illness, yet the governor, in his wisdom, saw fit to close Hudson River Psychiatric Center, though millions of dollars has just been spent to improve and remodel the facility, which included a treatment program for alcoholics and addicts. Where was the concern when the former Saint Francis Hospital closed the only in-patient adolescent treatment facility in the county? School districts struggle with budgets and one of the first cuts made are to student assistance counselors and social workers. After-care programs all around the county have been cut.

The state should reimburse medical facilities and hospitals at the same rate for psychiatric beds as they do for surgical beds. This would make it more profitable to have a mental health unit dedicated to young people. Perhaps Vassar Brothers Medical Center might be induced to create mental health treatment program at their facilities. Instead of this dramatic sorrow being played out in the media, the state and local leaders should put resources at one of the most significant sources of drug addition – mental illness.

Joseph Porpora

Wappingers Falls

Treatment of veterans: Shame on our politicians

I was appalled by the neglect Veterans Affairs staff have given our veterans. I'm a Canadian veteran, formerly with the Royal Canadian Air Force. The care given to the Canadian veterans is first-class, and I always thought that American veterans were treated even better.

It broke my heart to read that those who served this country so well, cannot get basic medical care. How dare congressmen, who voted for cutbacks in staffing and reshuffling of resources, have the nerve to do this?

Why don't their salaries or perks get cut? Even better, why don't we put uniforms on them and send them to Zaire or Bosnia? Should they come back wounded, send them to these hospitals, where patients are ignored and the mortality rate has more than doubled. Two hundred jobs were eliminated at one hospital and $180 million in funding was shifted elsewhere.

Families of patients have come forward with reports of unsanitary conditions, severe patient dehydration and malnutrition. This is the richest country in the world, yet we cannot give our veterans first-class health care. Shame on our politicians!

Now they promise an investigation. The political parties will blame each other. Why not blame it on the Russians? We should put the names and photos of those responsible on the front pages of newspapers and let them face humiliation.

Our veterans deserve the best. They didn't shirk their responsibilities, and our country shouldn't turn its back on them now when they need help.